Femoral fracture fixation device

ABSTRACT

A femur fixation device including an elongated nail configured for insertion into the medullary canal of the femur and a buttress element extending from the elongated nail. The buttress element is configured to reinforce the lesser trochanter region of the femur and assist in stabilizing the head portion of the femur.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to bone fracture fixationdevices and, more particularly, to bone fracture fixation devices thatinclude a bone reinforcement element for reinforcing a region of damagedor deformed bone. Even more particularly, the present disclosure relatesto an intramedullary nail including a lesser trochanter reinforcementmember for reinforcing the lesser trochanter region of a damaged femur.

BACKGROUND

Fractures at or near the proximal end portion of the femur may occur inany area of the proximal end and oftentimes occur in multiple locations.FIG. 1 illustrates a femur 10 including a fracture 12 in the proximalend portion 14 of the femur. Femur 10 includes a neck portion 16, atrochanteric portion 17, a head portion 18 and a body 20. As shown inFIG. 1, fracture 12 is located in neck portion 16 or trochantericportion 17, between head portion 18 and the body 20. When such afracture occurs, the lower or lesser trochanter region 22 may becomecomminuted into fragmented pieces 24 that are separated from proximalend portion 14 of femur 10.

One device commonly employed to stabilize and fixate a fracturedproximal end of the femur with a comminuted lesser trochanter is anintramedullary nail. FIG. 2 illustrates an intramedullary nail 26 thathas been inserted and fixed within femur 10 having a proximal endfracture 12. Typically, during a minimally invasive procedure,intramedullary nail 26 is inserted through proximal end 14 of femur 10and into the medullary canal of femur 10. One or more cortical screws 30may then be inserted through the cortical bone of one side of femur body20, through a bore 32 extending through intramedullary nail 26 and intothe cortical bone of the other side of femur body 20.

A lag screw 34 is inserted through the cortical bone and a bore 36 inthe proximal end portion 38 of the intramedullary nail 26. Lag screw 34includes a distal end portion 40 that is inserted into head portion 18of femur 10. Distal end portion 40 of the lag screw 34 engagestrabecular or cancellous bone within head portion 18 of femur 10. Distalend portion 40 of lag screw 34 may include an engaging member ormembers, such as threads, that engage the cancellous bone of headportion 18. After lag screw 34 has engaged head portion 18, the headportion is pulled by lag screw 34 toward neck portion 16 and body 20 offemur 10 to rejoin head portion 18 with femur 10 at fracture 12 as shownin FIG. 3.

When a patient, having an intramedullary nail implanted within a femur10, places pressure on the affected leg, the acetabulum of the pelvicbone places outward and downward pressure on head portion 18 of thefemur. Because the lesser trochanter has been comminuted and separatedfrom the bone, the lesser trochanter region 24 is essentially void anddoes not provide much, if any, support to head portion 18. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the downward pressure on head portion 18 from theacetabulum may cause head portion 18 to rotate in a downward direction,as indicated by arrow A. The acetabulum may also place outward pressureon head portion 18 that may cause head portion 18 and lag screw 34 tomove into an anatomically incorrect position, e.g., too far towards neck16 and body 20 of femur 10.

Downward rotation of head portion 18 may cause the cancellous bone inthe region designated as 42 of head portion 18 to press against distalend portion 40 of lag screw 34. The pressure of the cancellous boneagainst distal end portion 40 of lag screw 34 may cause strain andfurther injury to the bone in region 42, which may cause further bonefracture or injury to head portion 18. Furthermore, downward rotation ofhead portion 18 may cause the lower region 46 of head portion 18 to bemoved toward body 20, past its anatomically correct position.

Typically, lag screw 34 is designed to allow for some degree of movementof head portion 18 relative to trochanteric portion 17 and body 20.However, the outward pressure placed on head portion 18 may cause lagscrew 34 and head portion 18 to move outward, as indicated by arrow B,and in some instances head portion 18 may be pushed into trochantericportion 17 and body 20 beyond its natural anatomical proposition. Thismay result in the head portion healing in an incorrect or unnaturalanatomical position, which may cause lingering or prolonged pain to thepatient after the fracture has healed.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a femur fixation deviceincluding an elongated nail configured for insertion into the medullarycanal of the femur and a buttress element extending from the elongatednail. The buttress element is configured to apply a force to bone tissuein or adjacent to the lesser trochanter region of the femur. In oneembodiment, the buttress element assists in stabilizing or fixing thehead portion of the femur. The buttress element also may prevent orlimit downward rotation or outward movement of the femur head.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a femur fixationdevice including an elongated nail adapted for insertion into themedullary canal of the femur and a buttress element associated with thenail. The buttress element is configured for reinforcing the lessertrochanter region of the femur.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is related to a method oftreating a femur including inserting an elongated nail into anintramedullary canal of the femur and reinforcing a lesser trochanterregion of the femur with a buttress element that extends from theelongated nail. The buttress element may assist in stabilizing the headportion of the femur. The buttress element also may limit or preventoutward or downward movement of the head portion of the femur.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the course of this description, reference will be made to theaccompanying drawing(s), wherein:

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a femur having a proximal end fracturewherein the lesser trochanter has been comminuted;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a fractured femur shown with a priorart fixation device implanted in the femur for treatment of thefracture;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fractured femur and prior arttreatment device of FIG. 2 which shows the movement of the femur's headportion relative to the femur's trochanter and body in response topressure placed on the head portion;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fractured femur shown with oneembodiment of a fracture fixation device of the present disclosureimplanted therein;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a buttress element ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a buttresselement and a section of an intramedullary nail of the presentdisclosure with the buttress element in a pre-deployed position;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the buttress element andintramedullary nail of FIG. 6A with the buttress element shown in adeployed position;

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a buttresselement and a section of an intramedullary nail of the presentdisclosure with the buttress element shown in a pre-deployed position;

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the buttress element andintramedullary nail of FIG. 7A with the buttress element shown in adeployed position;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a buttresselement of the present disclosure shown in a deployed position;

FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the buttress element of FIG. 8A anda section of an intramedullary nail wherein the buttress element hasbeen deformed for insertion through the intramedullary nail;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a buttresselement of the present disclosure shown in a deployed position;

FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the buttress element of FIG. 9A shownin a pre-deployed position;

FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a buttresselement and a section of an intramedullary nail of the presentdisclosure shown in a pre-deployed position;

FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the buttress element andintramedullary nail with the buttress element of FIG. 10A shown in adeployed position;

FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a buttresselement and a section of an intramedullary nail of the presentdisclosure shown in a pre-deployed position; and

FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the buttress element andintramedullary nail with the buttress element of FIG. 11A shown in adeployed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it will be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to beinterpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention in virtually any appropriate manner.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a fracture fixation device 100 ofthe present disclosure shown within a femur 110 having a proximal endfracture 112 wherein the lesser trochanter has been comminuted andseparated from the bone. Device 100 is implanted into femur 110 tostabilize and heal the fractured segments of the bone. As will beexplained in more detail below, device 100 includes an intramedullarynail 126 and a buttress element 102 associated with intramedullary nail126. Buttress element 102 contacts the inner wall 104 of the corticalbone 106 or other tissue above damaged lesser trochanter region 108. Insome embodiments, buttress element 102 also contacts inner wall 103 ofthe cortical bone 105 or other tissue below damaged lesser trochanterregion 108 to assist in stabilizing head portion 118 of femur 110relative to neck 116 and body 120 of the femur 110. In particular,buttress element 102, in this embodiment, spans the region 108 of thecomminuted or otherwise damage lesser trochanter to stabilize headportion 118. Buttress element 102, may among other things, reduce orprevent the amount of rotation of head portion 118 and/or the amount ofoutward sliding or movement of head portion 118 when pressure is appliedto the head portion in the direction of arrow C and/or C1.

Intramedullary nail 126 may be of any design known in the art and mayinclude for example, features such as bends, angles, spirals, flutes,etc. Intramedullary nail 126 is inserted through the proximal end 114 offemur 110 and into the intramedullary cavity of femur body 120. As shownin FIG. 4, head portion 118 of femur 110 is separated from body 120 byfracture 112. Fixation device 100 also may include a one or more lagscrews 134 that are employed to connect head portion 118 to body 120 offemur 110. In the illustrated embodiment, fixation 100 device includesone lag screw 134 which is inserted (1) through the cortical bone offemur 110, (2) through a bore 136 in the proximal end portion 138 ofintramedullary nail 126, and (3) into head portion 118. Lag screw 134engages head portion 118 of femur 110 to fix and stabilize head portion118 relative to femur body 120. Similar to lag screw 34 of FIGS. 2 and3, lag screw 134 includes a threaded distal end portion 140 the contactsand engages the inner cancellous bone of head portion 118.

Fixation device 100 also may include one or more fasteners, such aslocking screws 130, which secure intramedullary nail 126 within thefemur 110. Locking screws 130 are inserted (1) through one side of femurbody 120, (2) through bores 132 of intramedullary nail 126, and (3) intothe other side of the bone of femur body 120.

As discussed above, fixation device 100 includes a buttress element 102that extents from intramedullary nail 126 and contacts inner wall 104 ofcortical bone 106 or adjacent tissue to apply a force to cortical bone106. Buttress element 102 may include a supporting member 150 and areinforcement member 152. In the illustrated embodiment, supportingmember 150 is elongated member, such as a post, rod, stem or shaft,which includes a proximal end portion 154 and a distal end portion 156.Reinforcement member 152 is located at or adjoins distal end portion 156of support member 150. As illustrated in FIG. 4, reinforcement member152 includes an upper portion 158 that contacts the portion of corticalbone 106 above the damaged lesser trochanter region 108, and a bottomportion 160 the contacts the cortical bone 105 below the damaged lessertrochanter region 108. In some embodiments, the reinforcement member 152may only contact the cortical bone 106 above damaged less trochanterregion 108.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a buttress element 102 whereinsupport member 150 is an elongated rod and reinforcement member 152 is asquare or rectangular plate-like member. In this embodiment,reinforcement element 152 extends in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal axis of support member 150. Reinforcement member 152 alsomay be other configurations, such as circular, oval, regular orirregular polygonal shapes of various sizes.

Referring back to FIG. 4, in this embodiment, support member 150 ofbuttress element 102 extends through the cortical bone of femur body 120and through a bore 162 in intramedullary nail 126. Reinforcement member152 contacts the inner wall 104 of the cortical bone 106 in the lessertrochanter region to assist in stabilizing head portion 118. Proximalend portion 154 of support member 150 may be anchored to the corticalbone of femur body 120 to secure buttress element 102 in the desireposition. Buttress element 102 provides a force which reduces, limits orprevents downward rotation and outward movement of head portion 118.

For example, as described above with respect to FIG. 3, when downwardpressure is placed on head portion 18, the head portion may rotate in adownward direction resulting in (1) pressure of the in cortical bone inregion 42 against distal end portion 40 of lag screw 34 and (2)separation of head portion 18 from trochanteric portion 17 and body 20in the upper fracture site 44. Pressure of the bone against lag screw 34and sliding of head portion 18 and neck 16 into the fracture site mayresult in patient pain and discomfort and unnatural healing of the bone.

With reference to FIG. 4 and fixation device 100 of the presentdisclosure, when downward pressure is placed on head portion 118 offemur 110 as indicated by arrow C, the upper portion 158 ofreinforcement member 152 in contact with or applying a force to aportion of the cortical bone 106 above the damaged lesser trochanterregion 108 buttresses or reinforces cortical bone 106. The reinforcementprovided by the buttress element 102 stabilizes head portion 118 andreduces, limits or prevents head portion 118 from rotating downward.Preventing or limiting the downward rotational movement head portion 118reduces, prevents or limits the pressure of the cancellous bone inregion 145 against distal end portion 140 of lag screw 134 and preventshead portion 118 from pulling away from neck 116 and body 120 in theupper area of the facture 112.

Also as described above with respect to FIG. 3, lag screw 34 is designedto allow some inward and outward movement of head portion 18 relative totrochanteric portion 17 and body portion 20. However, if too muchoutward pressure is placed on head portion 18 or lag screw 134 allowstoo much outward movement, head portion 18 may over slide or be pressedtoo far into trochanteric portion 17 and body portion 20. This mayresult in the head portion healing in an incorrect anatomical position,as shown in FIG. 3.

With fixation device 100 described herein and as shown in FIG. 4, whenoutward pressure is placed on head portion 118, the upper portion 158 ofreinforcement member 152 in contact with the inner wall 104 of thecortical bone 106 above the damaged lesser trochanter region 108buttresses, reinforces or applies a force to the cortical bone 106. Thereinforcement provided by the buttress element 152 stabilizes headportion 118 by acting as a stop that prevents outward movement of headportion 118 beyond a desired point. Preventing head portion 118 frommoving outward beyond a desired point retains head portion 118 in asubstantially anatomically correct position and reduces the risk of headportion 118 from healing in an incorrect anatomical position.

FIGS. 6A-10B illustrate some exemplary embodiments of the buttresselement of the present disclosure. FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectionalviews of a section of an intramedullary nail 200 and a buttress element202 (as shown in FIG. 6B). Buttress element 202 includes a reinforcementmember 204 and a support member 206. In this embodiment, thereinforcement member 204 and support member 206 are provided as twoseparate pieces which join together to form buttress element 202.Reinforcement member 204 may be a plate-like element which includes athreaded recess 208 within the inner surface 210 of reinforcement member204. The support member 206 is a threaded support member and thethreaded distal end portion 214 of support member is configured toengage thread recess 208 of reinforcement member 204 to attach supportmember 206 with reinforcement member 204.

Referring to FIG. 6A, in an initial or pre-deployed position,reinforcement member 204 is positioned within a recess 212 in the wallof the intramedullary nail 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the outersurface 216 of reinforcement member 204 is substantially flush with theouter surface 218 of intramedullary nail 200. In other embodiments, thefront surface 216 of reinforcement member 204 may extend beyond or berecessed within outer surface 218 of intramedullary nail 200.Furthermore, reinforcement member 204 may be held within recess 212 by afriction fit or by an adhesive. When in this initial position,intramedullary nail 200, with reinforcement member 204 located in recess212 may be inserted into the intramedullary cavity of the bone.

After intramedullary nail 200 is implanted in the desired position,support member 206, is inserted through the cortical bone (not shown)and into a threaded bore 220 passing through intramedullary nail 200. Asshown in FIG. 6B, threaded support member 206 mates with the threads ofbore 220 and support member 206 is rotated to advance support member 206through bore 220. As support member 206 is advanced, distal end portion214 of the support member 206 engages and mates with threaded recess 208of reinforcement member 204 to adjoin reinforcement member 204 andsupport member 206. With reinforcement member 204 adjoined to supportmember 206, support member 206 is further rotated to advance supportmember 206 and to move reinforcement member 204 from recess 212 and inthe direction of arrow D. Support member 206 is rotated untilreinforcement member 204 comes into contact with cortical bone 106 ofthe lesser trochanter region 108, as shown in FIG. 4. In this embodimentthe connection between recess 208 of reinforcement member 204 and distalend portion 214 of support member 206 may be such that reinforcementmember 204 is connected to support member 206 but does not rotate assupporter member 206 rotates.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate another embodiment of a buttress element 302and a section of an intramedullary nail 300. Buttress element 302 (asshown in FIG. 7B) includes a reinforcement member 304 and a supportmember 306. The reinforcement member 304 includes a plate-like element308 and a stem 310 extending therefrom. Support member 306 is threadedand includes a joining member, which may be a post 312, located at thedistal end portion 314 of support member 306. The post 312 is receivedinto a joining receptacle 316 in stem 310 of reinforcement member 304 tojoin reinforcement member 304 to support member 306.

Intramedullary nail 300 includes a recess 318 in the wall of the nailand a threaded bore 320 aligned with recess 318. Plate-like portion 308of reinforcement member 304 is nested within recess 318 and stem 310 ofreinforcement member 304 is located within threaded bore 320. Afterintramedullary nail 300 with reinforcement member 304 has been insertedinto the medullary canal of the femur and placed in the desiredposition, support member 306 is inserted through the cortical bone (notshown) of the femur and into bore 320 of intramedullary nail 300. Thepost 312 of support member 306 enters the receptacle 316 of the stem 310of reinforcement member 304 to join support member 306 to reinforcementmember 304. Additionally, the threads of support member 306 mate withthe threads of bore 320 such that rotation of support member 306 withinbore 320 advances support member 306 through the bore. Support member306 is rotated to push reinforcement member 304 out of recess 318 in thedirection of arrow E. Support member 306 is rotated to movereinforcement member 304 into contact with the cortical bone 106 of thelesser trochanter region 108, as shown in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate another embodiment of a buttress element 400.Buttress element 400 includes a reinforcement member 402 and a supportmember 404. The reinforcement member 402 may include at least onereinforcement projection or arm 406 that extend(s) or splay(s) radiallyoutward from the center 408 of reinforcement member 402 and isconfigured to contact and reinforce the cortical bone in lessertrochanter region. In one embodiment, the reinforcement member 402includes a plurality of reinforcement arms 406. In the illustratedembodiment, the reinforcement member 402 includes fours arms 406 in agenerally cruciform configuration.

In one embodiment, reinforcement arms 406 are made from a material thatmay be deformed from its original configuration for insertion into thefemur. Once inserted into the femur, the material is such that thereinforcement arms 406 return to their original configuration. Forexample, reinforcement member 402 may be made of a shape member alloy ora shape member of polymer. In other embodiments reinforcement arms 406may include a mechanical mechanism, such as hinges and/or biasingmechanisms, that allows arms 406 to be moved between a splayed andnon-splayed configurations.

Support member 404 is rod-shaped and includes a proximal end portion 410and a reduced diameter distal end portion 412. Referring to FIG. 8B, thereinforcement arms 406 may be deformed into a non-splayed configured bybending arms 406 backwards. In this configuration, arms 406 are benttoward the reduced diameter portion 412 of the support member 404. Thereduced diameter portion 412 allows the arms to be bent backwards suchthat surface 416 of the arms 406 when folded have an outer diametersubstantially equal to the outside diameter of proximal end portion 410of support member 404.

Referring to FIG. 8B, after intramedullary nail 420 has been insertedinto and positioned within the intramedullary canal of femur (notshown), buttress element 400 with reinforcement arms 406 in thenon-splayed configuration is inserted through the cortical bone (notshown) of the femur and through a bore 422 that extends throughintramedullary nail 420. Once the reinforcement arms 406 have cleared orpassed through the bore 422, arms 406 are returned to the splayedconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 8A. When the arms 406 are made from ashape memory material, they may self return to the splayedconfiguration. One the other hand, if the movement of arms 406 iscontrolled by a mechanical mechanism, the mechanism may be activated tosplay the arms. Support member 404 is advanced through bore 422 untilreinforcement arms 406 are in contact with the cortical bone 106 of thelesser trochanter region 108 as shown in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate yet another embodiment of a buttress element500 of the present disclosure. Similar to the previous embodiments, thebuttress element 500 includes a reinforcement member 502 and a supportmember 504. In this embodiment, the reinforcement member 502 is aninflatable element, for example a balloon or bag, which may be filledwith a hardenable or curable material. FIG. 9A shows the inflatablereinforcement member 502 in the inflatable configuration and FIG. 9Bshows the inflatable reinforcement member 502 in the deflatedconfiguration. The inflatable reinforcement member 502 may be anyvariety of shapes and sizes, for example, circular, square, elongated,etc. Additionally, the reinforcement member 502 may be made of asuitable polymer material, such as polyolefins, polyethylene,polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, ether-ketone polymers andcopolymers thereof.

The inflatable reinforcement member 502 is located at the distal endportion 506 of the support member 504. The support member may include apassageway (not shown) for delivering flowable, curable material intothe inflatable reinforcement member 502. Such material may be anysuitable curable material that when cured is sufficiently strong toreinforce the cortical bone of the lesser trochanter region. In oneexample, the hardenable, flowable material may be polymethylmethacrylate.

During use, an intramedullary nail is inserted into the medullary canalof a femur. After the nail is in position, the buttress element 500 withthe reinforcement member 502 in the deflated condition is insertedthrough the cortical bone and through a bore in the intramedullary nail.After the deflated reinforcement member 502 has cleared or passedthrough the bore, flowable, curable material is injected through thepassageway in the support member 504 and into the inflatablereinforcement member 502. The flowable material is injected at apressure sufficient to inflate the reinforcement member 502. The supportmember 504 and the inflated reinforcement member 502 are advancedthrough the bore in the intramedullary nail until the reinforcementmember is located adjacent to and preferably in contact with thecortical bone 106 of the lesser trochanter region 108, as illustrated inFIG. 4.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate another embodiment of a buttress element600 (as shown in FIG. 10B) and a section of an intramedullary nail 602.In this embodiment, the buttress element 600 includes a reinforcementmember 604 and a support member 606. The reinforcement member 604 is aplate-like element that is pivotally connected to the intramedullarynail 602. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom portion 608 of thereinforcement member 604 is connected to the intramedullary nail 602 byhinge 610. FIG. 10A shows the reinforcement member 604 in an initial orpre-deployed configuration, and FIG. 10B shows the reinforcement member604 in a deployed configuration.

The reinforcement member 604 is in the initial or pre-deployedconfiguration when the intramedullary nail 602 is inserted into themedullary canal of the femur. Once the intramedullary nail 602 is thedesired configuration, the support member 606, which includes threads,is inserted through the cortical bone and into threaded bore 612 passingthrough intramedullary nail 602. The support member 606 is rotated toadvance the support member through the bore 612. As the support memberis advanced, the distal end portion 614 of the support member 606contacts the back surface 616 of the reinforcement member 604 and causesthe reinforcement member 604 to pivot about hinge 610 to move thereinforcement member 604 into the deployed position. In the deployedposition, the reinforcement member 604 contacts the cortical bone 106 inthe lesser trochanter region to reinforce the bone in this area.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate another embodiment of a buttress element700 and a section of an intramedullary nail 702. The buttress element700 includes a reinforcement member 704 that is pivotally or rotatablelyattached to intramedullary nail 702. In this embodiment, thereinforcement member 704 has a generally arcuate surface 706 and agenerally hemispherically shaped body 708. In other embodiments, thereinforcement member 704 may have any other suitable shape and surface706 may have any other suitable contour. Reinforcement member 704 mayoptionally includes one or more support members 712 that extend frombody 708. Support member 712 is connected to the intramedullary nail 702by hinge 710. FIG. 11A shows the reinforcement member 704 in an initialor pre-deployed configuration, and FIG. 11 B shows the reinforcementmember 704 in a deployed configuration.

In the pre-deployed configuration, reinforcement member 704 resides oris positioned in a passageway, channel, or cavity 714 defined byintramedullary nail 702. In one embodiment, reinforcement member 704 maybe biased toward this position by a biasing mechanism, such as a springor leaf spring. In other embodiments, the reinforcement member 704 maybe held in the pre-deployed configuration by a releasable restraint oradhesive. In use, the intramedullary nail 702 is inserted into themedullary canal with the reinforcement member 704 in the initial orpre-deployed configuration shown in FIG. 11A. Once the intramedullarynail 702 is the desired configuration, an actuation member, such as anelongated member 716, which may be a screw, rod or the like, is insertedinto, and optionally through, passageway 714 of intramedullary nail 702as shown in FIG. 11B. Elongated member 716 contacts reinforcementelement 704 and pushes or advances it out of passageway 714. Inembodiments wherein reinforcement element 704 is biased toward thepre-deployed configuration, the force applied to reinforcement member704 by elongated member 716 is sufficient to overcome the biasing forceto move reinforcement element 704. In the embodiments whereinreinforcement member 704 is releasable restrained into the pre-deployedconfiguration, the force applied by elongated member 716 is sufficientovercome the restraint.

As reinforcement member 704 is moved out of the passageway 716, itrotates or pivots about hinge 710 into the deployed position. In theillustrated embodiment, bottom surface 718 of reinforcement member 704contacts the outer surface 720 of intramedullary nail 702 when in thedeployed position. In the deployed position, the reinforcement member704 contacts the cortical bone 106 (shown in FIG. 4) in the lessertrochanter region to reinforce or buttress the bone in this area.

It will be understood that the embodiments described above areillustrative of some of the applications of the principles of thepresent subject matter. Numerous modifications may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of theclaimed subject matter, including those combinations of features thatare individually disclosed or claimed herein. For these reasons, thescope hereof is not limited to the above description but is as set forthin the following claims, and it is understood that claims may bedirected to the features hereof, including as combinations of featuresthat are individually disclosed or claimed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A femur fixation device for treating a femur, thefemur having an intramedullary canal, a head portion and a lessertrochanter region, the fixation device comprising: an elongated nailhaving an external surface defining a recess, the elongated nailconfigured for insertion into the medullary canal of the femur; and abuttress element comprising a support member and a reinforcement member,the buttress element configured to extend from the elongated nail andapply a force to bone tissue in or adjacent to the lesser trochanterregion of the femur, wherein, at a first position, the reinforcementmember is positioned within the recess and is configured to receive adistal end of the support member such that upon advancement of thesupport member, the reinforcement member advances from the recess to asecond position, and wherein, at the second position, the support memberextends through the recess with the reinforcement member positioned atthe distal end of the support member.
 2. The fixation device of claim 1,wherein the buttress element assists in stabilizing the head portion ofthe femur.
 3. The fixation device of claim 1, wherein the buttresselement limits or prevents outward movement and/or downward rotation ofthe head portion of the femur.
 4. The fixation device of claim 1,wherein the buttress element is configured to contact cortical bone inor adjacent to the lesser trochanter region.
 5. The fixation device ofclaim 1, wherein the support member extends radially from the elongatednail.
 6. The fixation device of claim 5, wherein the support membercomprises an elongated rod.
 7. The fixation device of claim 5, whereinthe reinforcement member comprises a plate-like member.
 8. The fixationdevice of claim 5, wherein the reinforcement member and the supportmember are separate elements that adjoin together to form the buttresselement.
 9. The fixation device of claim 5, wherein the support memberincludes a longitudinal axis and the reinforcement member extends in adirection generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the supportmember.
 10. A femur fixation device for treating a femur, the femurhaving an intramedullary canal, a head portion, and a lesser trochanterregion, the fixation device comprising: an elongated nail adapted forinsertion into the intramedullary canal of the femur, wherein a recessis formed in a wall of the elongated nail; and a buttress elementassociated with the elongated nail, the buttress element configured forreinforcing the lesser trochanter region of the femur, wherein thebuttress element comprises: a support member; and a reinforcement memberdefining a second recess, the reinforcement member positioned within thefirst recess, wherein the second recess is configured to receive adistal end portion of the support member and, upon receiving the distalend portion, the reinforcement member advances from the first recess.11. The fixation device of claim 10, where the buttress element assistsin stabilizing the head portion of the femur.
 12. The fixation device ofclaim 10, where the buttress element limits or prevents outward movementand/or downward rotation of the head portion of the femur.
 13. Thefixation device of claim 10, where the buttress element is configured tocontact cortical bone in or adjacent to the lesser trochanter region.14. The fixation device of claim 10, where the support member extendsradially from the elongated nail and the reinforcement member is locatedat the distal end portion of the support member.
 15. A method oftreating a femur, comprising: inserting an elongated nail into anintramedullary canal of the femur, the elongated nail having a boreextending through a width and having an external surface defining afirst recess, wherein a reinforcement member is positioned within thefirst recess, the reinforcement member defining a second recess;inserting a support member through the bore such that a distal end ofthe support member is positioned within the second recess; and advancingthe support member such that the reinforcement member advances from therecess and reinforces a lesser trochanter region of the femur.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, further including contacting cortical bone in thelesser trochanter region with the reinforcement member and the supportmember.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the reinforcement member andthe support member assists in stabilizing a head portion of the femur.18. The method of claim 15, wherein the reinforcement member and thesupport member limits or prevents outward movement or downward rotationof a head portion of the femur.